Piper PA-18 accident near Gail, Texas, March 21, 1995
On March 21, 1995 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N99MP, was destroyed in an accident near Gail, Texas. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT LOW ALTITUDE. FACTORS WERE GUSTY WINDS AND INADEQUATE ALTITUDE FOR MANEUVERING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 1995 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gail, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N99MP · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN WHILE EXECUTING A RIGHT TURN AT LOW ALTITUDE WHILE ON A PREDATOR CONTROL FLIGHT TO ERADICATE COYOTES FROM A SHEEP RANCH. THE WINDS IN THE AREA WERE REPORTED TO BE GUSTING TO 40 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LEFT WING 'CAME UP' AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE GROUND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 390 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 295 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,193 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 1995; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.